MANSFIELD, OH- New Tyger boys basketball coach Marquis Sykes is putting his team through their summer paces at Pete Henry Gym. For the first year head coach, the summer is about building team chemistry.

"For me, it's all about team chemistry learning to play with each other. Learning each other strengths and weaknesses and building team comradery and that is what the summer is about. Along with improving your skills, your individual development, your shooting and ball handling skills."

"We didn't have a lot of that (comradery) last year," says 6'1" senior guard BJ Patrick. Because a lot of players didn't play varsity so we never had a chance to play together. It's good to build comradery and I think we'll do it over the summer."

Asked his first impression of Coach Sykes, "My first impression is that he's laid back and he's not going to be too hard on us on offense, but he'll be harder on us on the defensive end," said Patrick.

"Well, I'm a defensive-minded guy," said Sykes. "So I tend to work a lot on the defensive side, but I think you have to have some balance and you certainly have to make sure you work both ends. I need my coaches to remind me sometimes that we need to get some offense in because I think defense a lot.

Though it is some five months down the road the 2017-'18 Mansfield Senior basketball Tygers will open on the road at Lima Senior on Friday, December 1st.